Wire-stretcher.



Gr. A. LINN.

WIRE STRETGHBR.

APPLIGATION FILED 0011.190?.

h Patented Apr. 13, 1909.

GEORGE A. LINN, OF GANTRIL, IOWA.

WIRE-STRETCHER.

no. elf/,eve

' To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE A. LINN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cantril, in the county of Van Buren and State of oWa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in /v'ire-Stretchers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to an improvement in wire stretchers, and has for its obj ect the provision of means for facilitating the drawing or stretching of a strand or Wire against a post, preferably, for the purpose of tightening said strand or wire.

The invention consists in the construction and arrangement ofparts, as will be hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a wire stretcher constructed in` accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of my wire stretcher. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3, 3, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4, 4, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a hook employed in the present invention.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, 1 designates a bar, preferably, formed of metal. The bar 1 is bifurcated at 2, producing prongs 3, 3, which constitute a claw-end upon the bar. The bar, at its opposite end, is sharpened, as at 4, for producing a blade positioned at an angle to the body portion.

A clamping collar 5 is adjustably seeured to the bar 1 intermediate its ends. The collar 5 comprises, preferably, an annular body 6, terminating in upwardly extending contacting parallel arms 7, 7. The arms 7 are provided with a plurality of openings, in one of which apertures is secured fastening means, as for instance, bolt 8, for drawing the ends together and clamping the collar 6 upon the bar for securing said collar in an adjusted position. A chain 9, constituting iieXible connecting means, is secured to the clamp 5, by reason of the fact that l secure the inner end-link 9 in, preferably, the outer registering openings 10 of the arms 7. rllhe opposite end of chain 9 is secured to a hooklink 11, which link 11 is positioned in apen ture 12 of the claw or hook-member 13. The claw is provided with a bifurcated end 14 and with the curved hooks or iingers 15, 15.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed Getober 1, 1907.

Patented april 1e, 1909.

serial No. 395,419.

A block 16 is Ylixedly secured, preferably, by a plurality of rivets 7, to the upper face of the claw or hook-member 13. The block 16 is provided with a toothed or roughened, vertical, inner edge 18, said toothed or roughened inner edge is arranged in alinement with and registers with the bifurcated portion 14 of the claw or hook-member 13. A cam lever 19 is pivotally mounted, at 20, upon the upper face of the claw or hookmember 13, and said cam lever is provided with a toothed or roughened inner edge 21, similar to the edge 18 of the block 16, said teeth being also arranged in alinement with the bifurcated portion and co-acts with the teeth on the plate. The block 16 and the cam lever 19 constitute a clamp or gripping device for engaging smooth wire, as for in stance, wire 22, Fig. 2. It will, therefore, be seen that l can use my stretcher for either stretching barb wire 23 or smooth wire 22; if the device is used for stretching barb wire, the fingers 15 are, preferably, positioned behind a barb, as for instance, 24, Fig. 1, and the claw end ofthe bar 1 is positioned against the post 25 and by forcing the outer end of the bar 1 downward, the wire will be stretched and permit the operator to staple the wire, at 26, to the post in its stretched condition, the staple being placed behind the barb engaged by the claw or hook-member.

lf it is desired, barb wire may be stretched without employing the claw, because the smooth part of the wire can be engaged by the-cani-gripping device comprising block 16 and the cam lever 19. lf it is desired to adjust or change the length of chain 9, relative to the clamping device 5 and the claw 13, this can be done by placing a different link or chain Q upon the hook-link 11. My wire stretcher may also be used for stretching wire-mesh, as it will be obvious that the curved fingers 15, constituting one end of the claw or hook-member 13, can be easily inserted into the mesh, and, consequently, enable the stretcher to be employed in drawing the Wire-mesh tight and against a post, preparatory to fastening the mesh to said post. When it is desired to place the cam-gripping device out of operation, it is only necessary to swing the outer end of the cam member 19 toward the contiguous finger 15, Fig. 1.

in 5, I have illustrated a hook 27 provided with a curved portion 28, at one end, adapted to be placed around a post, and at its opposite end with a claw 29. The claw 29 is provided With a biiurcated portion 30 producing lingers 3l, and each iinger is, preferably, provided With a notch or bifurcated portion 32. rIhe hook 27 is employed for grasping the Wire and temporarily holding it contiguous to a post prior to the attaching oi the Wire stretcher thereto. It Will be seen that if the operator had to grasp the wire With his hand, the same Would likely be injured, especially if the Wire grasped Was provided With barbs. Barb-Wire is usually held in the bifurcated portion 30 of the claW 29, and if it is desired to hold tWo or more strands at once, this can be accomplished by placing the strands in the biiurcated portions 3() and 32. It Will, therefore, be obvious that I have provided a hook Which is not only capable of being attached to a single strand, but also to a plurality of strands, When necessary. By attaching the hook 27 to the Wire prior to the securing of the stretcher thereto, the Wire Will be prevented from kinking or becoming tangled.

In my Wire stretcher, the ingers and the block and cam-member constitute tWo separate and independent gripping means for a strand of barbed Wire, Which tWo gripping means are adapted to be synchronously used for the purpose speciiied; in the case of an old fence, When the Wire is Weak, it is not desirable to place the entire strain of stretching the strand upon a barb, and, therefore, by quickly hooking the iingers 15 against the barb and laying the strand doWn between the block and the lever, the strain Will be distributed at tWo points upon the strand, Which is oi material importance. It Will be obvious that the strand can be instantly laid in position or removed bodily from orf the claW, Which facilitates the Work and greatly minimizes the amount of time involved. Furthermore, by employing the rivets or fastening means 17, it is not necessary, When the block is Worn to throW aWay the entire claw, but only necessary to remove the heads of the rivets and substitute a neW block, the same is true in reference to removing the rivet When a neW cam-lever is desired to be placed upon the jaW, whereby the life of the device is greatly increased Without any material expense.

What I claim is: a

A Wire stretcher comprising a lever With claWs on one end, a collar extending entirely around the periphery of the lever and provided With upWardly-extended parallel arms, said arms being provided With tWo sets of registering openings, a bolt passing through one set of openings for securing the arms together and also jfor adjustably securing the collar on the lever, a chain secured to the other set of openings, a hook link adjustably secured to the chain, and a grip attached to the hook link, substantially as specified.

In testimony Whereoi` I hereunto alliX my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

GEORGE A. LINN. Witnesses:

LAWSON Lock, C. G. NoRRrs. 

